The Occupational Safety and Health Act"...to assure so far as possible every working man and woman in the Nation safe and healthful working conditions and to preserve our human resources."
The Occupational Safety and Health Act was enacted in 1970 and signed into effect by President Richard Nixon. The Act governs the health and safety of workers nationwide. The act aims to protect workers from dangerous chemicals in the workplace, and unsanitary conditions. Essentially, the act requires workplaces to provide a safe environment for all workers. Up until this act was put into practice, workplace safety was a very vague grey area. It was often more cost effective to replace an injured worker rather than installing proper safety measures, so many workplaces went without proper safety measures until mandated by the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
After World War II most labor unions were focused primarily on achieving fair wages in the workplace, and this took precedence over workplace safety, but when workplace accident rates started to increase, the unions took notice. Additionally, new technologies and improvements in chemical science introduced a plethora of new chemicals to the workplace, and these would go unregulated for the next 20 years. With the enviromental revolution of the 1960s came a call for better safety mandates in the workplace. Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring outlined the hidden dangers of the chemicals being used in both agriculture and industrial practices and was wildly successful with the public. Public support for chemical regulations grew, so many politicians joined the movement and eventually a stronger push for workplace safety regulation began.
President Johnson released a predecessor to the Occupational Safety and Health Act, but it was much more involved and required mandatory compliance from all businesses throughout the nation. The version of the act the Nixon administration championed was far less strict, and required only advisory compliance of the act, but this bill was soon scrapped for a slightly more strict one drafted by Rep. James G O'Hara and Senator Harrison A. Williams. Nixon signed the bill in 1970, and it went into effect in 1971.
What does the act require of businesses?
Maintain conditions or adopt practices reasonably necessary and appropriate to protect workers on the job
Be familiar with and comply with standards applicable to their establishments
Ensure that employees have and use personal protective equipment when required for safety and health
Employers are required to discuss hazards specific to the workplace
The Occupational Safety and Health Act was enacted in 1970 and signed into effect by President Richard Nixon. The Act governs the health and safety of workers nationwide. The act aims to protect workers from dangerous chemicals in the workplace, and unsanitary conditions. Essentially, the act requires workplaces to provide a safe environment for all workers. Up until this act was put into practice, workplace safety was a very vague grey area. It was often more cost effective to replace an injured worker rather than installing proper safety measures, so many workplaces went without proper safety measures until mandated by the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
After World War II most labor unions were focused primarily on achieving fair wages in the workplace, and this took precedence over workplace safety, but when workplace accident rates started to increase, the unions took notice. Additionally, new technologies and improvements in chemical science introduced a plethora of new chemicals to the workplace, and these would go unregulated for the next 20 years. With the enviromental revolution of the 1960s came a call for better safety mandates in the workplace. Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring outlined the hidden dangers of the chemicals being used in both agriculture and industrial practices and was wildly successful with the public. Public support for chemical regulations grew, so many politicians joined the movement and eventually a stronger push for workplace safety regulation began.
President Johnson released a predecessor to the Occupational Safety and Health Act, but it was much more involved and required mandatory compliance from all businesses throughout the nation. The version of the act the Nixon administration championed was far less strict, and required only advisory compliance of the act, but this bill was soon scrapped for a slightly more strict one drafted by Rep. James G O'Hara and Senator Harrison A. Williams. Nixon signed the bill in 1970, and it went into effect in 1971.
What does the act require of businesses?